Electrotherapeutic device



Aug. 21, 1923.

H. J. NELSON ELECTROTHERAPEUTIC DEVICE Fi'led Dec. 5. 1921 ZJ/M mvsrs.

awn/ran. erg M Patented Aug. 2l, 1923.

, UNITED STATES HENRY JOHN NELSON, or GREENBAY, WISCONSIN.

nLEc'rRoTHERArEuTIo nnvronv i Application filed December 3,1921, Serial swam.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY'J. NELSON, a citizen of the, United States, residing at Green Bay, county ofBrown, and State of 'Wisconsin, have invented. new and useful Improvements in Electrotherapeutic De vices, of which the following is a specifica tion. 1 This invention relates toan electro-thera peutic device and is particularly directed to an apparatus especially adapted for home use.

In the treatment of neuritis, rheumatism,

lumbago and other diseases, with their accompanying secondary disturbances such as .sleeplessness and nervousness, the useof ra V diant energy, particularly rich in heat and actinic rays, has been steadily gaining favor due to therelatively large number of cures efl'ected, and to the relative simplicity and safeness of the treatment. However, although the treatment itself is simple and safe, there was a hitherto'unavoidably associa-ted danger, due to the subsequent exposure of the patient to cold and shock while returning to his home after a treatment. It

is well known that immediately after a treatment, the patient is in an extremely relaxed condition and is peculiarly subject to cold and shock, and that either of these disturbancesmay arrest the beneficial influences which have just been initiated thereby lessening, and often defeating, the very object of this treatment. I

It is therefore aprimary objectof thisinvention to provide an electro-therapeutic device, utilizing radiant energy, which is peculiarly adapted for home use; one which may be used in the bed of the patient and,

if desired,ximmediately before the patient Further objects are to provide an electro therapeutic device which does not require any additional auxiliary apparatus but which is of unitary design, complete in itself; which is portable; which rnay be applied to any part of the body; which is adapted for the treatment of either a rela-;

1,465,615 PATENT OFFICE.-

tively large or small area; which is adequately Y protected from harmful contact with the patient'so as to guard against accidental contact with either the lights or electrical connections; and which may be cheaply andreadily manufactured Embodiments of theinvention are shown in the accompanying drawing, in which 2- Figure 1 is a front elevation of the device as it appears in use.

Figure 2 is a side elevation with parts broken away to more clearly show the construction.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the structure shown in Figure 1. j

Figure 4.- is a plan view showing a modification which may be employed.

Figure 5 is afront elevationof the-structure shown in Figure l. The device comprises a reflectorywhose main portion is an elongated substantially cylindricalmember 1 provided with conical Orspherical ends 2. These portions'l and 2 may be formed integrally, if so desired, by a single stamping operation. A seriesof openings are formed thru the main member 1 of the reflector and two-part sockets in-- serted therethru; one of such parts 3 constituting the maj or portion of the socket and positioned to the rearof the reflector, and

the other part 4 corresponding 'to a looking or clampingnut being placed on the forward side of the reflector and extending thereto to engage the rear portion of the socket'to thereby, lock such socket in posi-' tlOll upon the reflector-,a resilient or,

cushioning gasket 5 being preferably'placed between the flanged portion of the member 4: and'the deflector so as to avoid excessive strains tending to break theporcelain of the cally by means of conductors'6 and 7 held beneath a clip-likeportionS upon the rear side ofthe socket,:such conductors being ex tended to providea flexible connector'tersocket. These sockets are connected electri- 1 minating in a screw plug 9 and provided with an intermediate control switch 10; the

proportioning of thelength of the condiic tors being such as-to allow their ready-attachment to a source of electrical energy,

while at the same timepositioningthe switch 10 within easy reach of the patient.

A series of electric lamps 11 are screwed into the sockets and are so arranged that they occupy the'correct positioning relative to the reflector 1. A convenient and satisfactory way of arranging these lights is to arrange alternate lights in the upper and lower rows in staggered relation, as indicated in Fi ure 1. It is, of course, understood that the curvature or shape oi the re fleeting surfaces is such as to produce the desired distribution 01 the reflected'and di rect radiations. That is to say, it it is de sired to cause the rays to be concentrated at one point, or to be projected in horizontal lines, or to be slightly divergent, the relative position of the lights and the curvature of the reflecting surfaces is accordingly suitably varied. It is,'however, contemplated projecting the rays more or less in a horizontal direction with, however, a slight amount of divergence, as this is' the most generally serviceable arrangement.

In order to stiffen the device and provide both a shield for the electrical connections and a base for the device to rest upon, a suitable sheet metal back is provided, as indicated at 12. This back has integral forwardly projecting upper and lower portions 13 and 1 1- which' are secured beneath the in turned marginal edges 15 and 16 of the central or body portion 1 of the reflector. These portions 13 and 14 are slightly concave so as to provide increased rigidity, and the rear portion or back 12 is similarly bent inwardly, so as to provide an additional point of contact, as indicated at 17, with the rear surface of the reflector. At each of the several points of lines of contact be tween this combined back and base portion with the reflector, suitable means are emaloyed to'secure a permanent joint as, for example, by means of soldering, brazing, or similar processes. In this manneiy'the back provides both a reinforcing and'protecting sheath for the electrical conductors and a base for the entire apparatus to rest upon.

A series of outwardly bowed protecting rods 18 are provided, and extend across the front of the reflector, and spaced at suitable distances apart so as to prevent harmful contact of the patient with either the lights or the'heated reflector. These rods may be securedin any desired manner as, for example, by providing them with a pair of nuts 19 and 20 upon their outer ends and clamping such nuts against the inner and outer surfaces of the reflector adjacent its marginal edges after such rods have been passed thru apertures in the reflector.

The device, as thus far described, is admirably adapted for the treatment of extended areas of the patients body. It is intended that the device be placed upon the bed of the patient, occupying the position indicated in Figures 1 and 2, that is to say, standing upon its base portion 1 1. If, for example, it is desired to treat the back of the patient, he turns upon his side and the attendant places the therapeutic device behind-him, allowing it to rest upon the bed with its greatest dimension extending parallel'to the patients body and with the reflector towards the patient. he electrical comjluctors are so disposed that the switch may be easily reached by the patient. There after," the clothing of the patient is so arranged that the rays ma directly reach his body and. the current is then turned on. If desired, the bed clothes may be placed over the patient and over the device to thr'ircb further conserve the heat and produce a more rapid rise in temperature. If, however, the relatively high heat is not desired to such. an extent, the bed clothes may be removed and the patient may then be subjected merely to the direct rays of the apparatus without being subjected to-the relatively high temperature, which would be produced when the device is used as stated above. In either case, however, the patient is subjected to heat rays and actinic rays. The patient becomes relaxed and the therapeutic action of the heat and light rays produce their desirable eflcct. After the treatment, itis not necessary to disturb the patient, but merely to make sure that he properly covered and not exposed in any way to cold or shocks. In this manner, the desired effect may be produced whenever it is wished, and the patient may be protected from subsequent exposure in a manner impossible under the usual treatment given at physicians ofliccs, as in the latter case it is necessary for the patientto again come into the cold and be subjected to shocks of greater or less intensity on his way home, which may in itself arrest the'beneticial changes started by the treatment,aiul which will at all events materially lessen them. By using the device forming the subject matter of this invention, all oi the undesirable features enumerated above are wholly avoided, and the beneficial gradual changes may continue for a great length of time after the treatment has stopped.

For the treatment of a relatively sniall area, the therapeutic device may be proviaed with a front cover 21, which is of the general shape of the reflector and is slightly outwardly bowed to accommodate the protecting rods 18. This shield may be provided with inturned flanges 22 equipped with suitable cutouts 23 to avoid the end nuts 20, -and with an appropriate slot 2 1 to accommodate the threaded shank of the'central protecting rod 18. In positioning this device, it is merely necessary to loosen the central nuts 20 and slip the device into place, thereafter tightening the central nuts and provided with substantially conical or flaring walls 26. The location of this opening is such as to permit the outward passage of light from three of the lamp-s simultaneously, if so desired. It is to be noted that V the exact amount of heat rays and actinic rays may be secured by utilizing the desired number of lights. For, if it is desired to reduce the effect of the apparatus, one or more lights may be unscrewed from their sockets.

It will thus be seen that an electro-therapeutic apparatus has been produced which is eminently suited for home use; which may be employed in treatments without requiring subsequent exposure of the patient; which is of extremely rigid design; inwhich the various parts are protected against accidental contact with the patient; and which does not require the use of auxiliary apparatus or equipment.

I claim 1. A portable therapeutic device compris-v ing an apertured reflecting element having a cylindrically curved portion, lamp sockets supported from said body portion upon oposite sides of the median line thereof, lamps in said sockets converging toward the axis of said body portion, wiringfor supplying current to said sockets exterior to said reflector, and a unitary base and guard at the rear of the reflector and connected thereto vide a protecting sheath for said electrical at its margin-s and at apoint intermediate said sockets, said guard being bent, between extending its points of connection with the reflector to V constitute a housing for the wiring and to provide a base upon which the-device will be stablein a plurality of positions;

2. A portable electro-therapeutic device comprising a cylindrically curved reflector apertured upon either side of its longitudinal median line, sources of radiant energy mounted in said apertures and adapted toreceive electrical current from the exterior of the reflector, wiring for connecting isaid sources of'radiant energy with a supply main for electrical current, and a sheet metal housing secured to the margins of said reflector and to an intermediate point thereof'and bent between its points of connection with the reflector to enclose said wiring and to provide a three-sided base upon any side of which the device will be stable.

3. A, portable electro-therapeutic device comprising an elongated reflector having substantially conical ends and a cylindrical body portion, a plurality of lamps, a plurality of sockets supporting said lamps and through said reflector and clamped thereto with their major portion projecting to the rear of said reflector, elec trical connectors connecting said sockets and adapted to be connected to a source of elec trical'energy and positioned upon the rear of said reflector, and a unitary back and base attached to. the upper and lower elongated sides and to substantially the middle of the rear surface of said reflector to thereby proconnectors and a base for said device. 

